Rivals claim Ed Balls is pleading for nominations

Daniel Finkelstein and Peter Hoskin have speculated about the strange ballet that is the race for Labour leadership nominations. Ed Miliband was the first across the line for the 33 names needed (he has 41). David Miliband, who had the votes, followed him, and now has 37. He is pursuing a slow-build strategy apparently, not wanting to put off other backers by getting there too soon. The puzzle is Ed Balls. Two strands of speculation are emerging. The first says that he will have no difficulty in producing the 33 names he needs by the time of the deadline because he will become the rallying point for the left, and the union machine will make sure he gets on the ballot. The second is not so sure: his enemies say there are too many MPs who will express their anger at the failures of Brown Central by keeping him out of the race.

I veer towards the former view. Without him on the ballot the contest will be between three guys who look and sound too alike. Like him or loathe him, Mr Balls at least gets the blood going. I am assured though that despite his confidence he is in fact struggling to find signatories for his nomination papers (he has 14 so far). Sources in rival camps say Mr Balls has been in touch to ask if they might lend him some spare supporters to ensure he gets on the ballot. They are not keen to help, as they know that once he gets past the MP stage, Mr Balls can call on the power of the union machine to help him with the rest of the electoral college.